Friday, February 5, 2010

Superbowl AD-vantage (ETS Daily Exclusive)


Most likely everyone in the country knows the Superbowl is this weekend, the real question to ask people is why are you planning on watching it. Within this question arises some complications about the actual importance of the game. I recently asked a personal friend that if he had the choice of not being able to watch any NFL games or coverage for a year but his team would win the Superbowl, or he could watch as much of the NFL product but his team would finish with a winning record but no Superbowl. He choose to win the Superbowl. After questioning a few more “fans” (if you consider people who don’t even enjoy watching the sport fans) I came to discover that this is a common theme although maybe not one held by the majority. If this is such a popular sentiment than why are all these people watching the games when “their” team isn’t even playing in the game. Some will answer because they enjoy watching a good, hard played, competitive game. I applaud that answer those people know the true meaning of sports. Some will answer they want get wasted and the Superbowl is a great excuse, I applaud those people to an extent as well, they understand the point of life; have fun while doing minimal damage to the environment or others (this of course excludes drinking which leads to driving or domestic abuse). Others still will say because of the commercials, in fact I believe that most would answer this. We’ll actually I believe most would lie right to my face and tell me that they just happened to be a fan of either team, but I would know the truth.
I’m so confident in this last point that I am willing to bet (post bets in the comments section, I’ll get back to you) that if the NFl divided the Superbowl in two parts; part one containing 60 minutes of action (11 minutes if you read my last post) and part two containing just new Superbowl ads as well as the half time show, they second part would outscore the first. Honestly if we discount sports shows such as the ones on the NFL network or ESPN look at the coverage. Generally there is a two minute segment with news anchors giving their picks and pretending like they actually know jack shit about a sport they never watch, this is usually followed up by a two minute segment about the likely weather conditions of the game. The last and most important segment is usually a fifteen minute or so look back on past Superbowl ads and this trend continues after the game as well
However that is not the point of the article. The real point is, are these firms getting their money’s worth. We all know that millions watch the Superbowl, nearly 100 million on average in fact. But with a cost of about $2.8 million per ad is it worth the money. I’ll admit that I have watched a commercial for a snack product and thought to myself “wow I haven’t had that in ages” and subsequently went out and purchased it as I am sure most Americans have. Then again I work at a grocery store (for now) and I am sure that I would have scanned a bag of generic junk food eventually and be enticed to buy it. So I can accept Coca Cola and McDonalds doing Superbowl commercials, but what excuse do car companies have? Has anyone ever seen a Toyota Corolla commercial and with shock and amazement exclaimed “wow I never knew this existed before”. Since the Corolla has been the number one selling car since 1997 I am doubtful. Even if someone had never seen this car do people honestly make purchases on a whim? Am I the only person; who when in the market for a big ticket item such as a car, insurance, a MP3 player (Zune all the way), or cell phone, actually does research on the best models, brands, and prices? Look at the asinine Geico gecko commercials, has anyone honestly ever been convinced to call up and change companies or even inquire about an insurance company based on a cartoon animal. Anyone swayed by such a commercial is likely someone I wouldn’t want to insure and certainly wouldn’t want driving an on average two ton killing machine. Honestly if anyone has ever come into contact with someone who was sold on car insurance by a lizard please contact me, I will immediately revoke this person’s license and then burry my head in a pillow at the thought of living in a world with people so easily influenced. Anyway this has grown beyond a Superbowl article and instead turned into a condemnation of ads in general. As ads are what fund our favorite TV shows I would recommend everyone ignore my statements or at least pretend to. Pretend that you base your every thought on commercials, because I really don’t feel like paying every time I turn on the TV. To get back to the Superbowl I leave you with two memorable commercials.

Favorite: 2002 Bud Light: In this ad a man races up stairs for sex and beer only to slide out the window on satin sheets. Why I love It: It has Sex, Drugs (alcohol is a drug), Violence. Which is the scientific equation for excitement.
Least Favorite: Any Budweiser Wasssup Commercial: Dumb asses screaming Wassup! for thirty seconds that is it. Why I hate it: It has nothing to do with the product other than to say that if you drink enough you start talking/acting like a douche bag. Maybe I’m wrong maybe this was a PSA and not an ad. The real question is why would you like this one.
Feel free to post your own favorites in the comments section.

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